New Year Hopes

This week's challenge at Serendipity Scrapbooks is to blog about my Hopes for the New Year...well after this year, I really don't have many, but the ones I have are dear to me...
1) Health for Joshua...
2) That we would grow closer as a family...that the brothers and sister would grow closer and realize that their strengths and weeknesses are a blessing
3) That we would all grow deeper in God's Word
4) That God would provide for our needs through my husband's business


That is really it...

C~

Christmas Blessings

We had a wonderful Christmas here in the Cannon home...thankful that God put on flesh and came to earth so that life could be totally different for those who believe in Him. We have had the first White Christmas that I remember in a LONG TIME...about 18 or so years...we live in an area that generally gets missed in the snow falls we get around here, so it was nice to get such a large amount of snow. I was so thankful that life really came to a stop...no running around for appointments and such...we were just HOME...
We got quite a bit done too...finished up the gifts we had been making, made my honey a week at a glance calendar, baked all kinds of goodies and got them to friends (thanks to my honey) and neighbors (thanks to our feet) and I felt blessed that we had such good friends and neighbors.
So this week, it's back to "work"...the children will be doing some schoolwork, I will be doing the work I need to do...and we all need to work on getting our house back to some kind of normal...we will be having family over on the 10th, so it will not be totally normal until after then, but we can get somethings done.
So I have to tell you...I got the coolest gift (well it's cool if you own a Kitchen-aid...It is a flat beater...like the white one that came with the mixer...that you use ALL of the time, but it has rubber type scrapers on the sides, so that it gets everything mixed in...I haven't used it yet, so I cannot verify that FOR sure, but I LOVE it...
Dana was in Canada this weekend with #2 at a hockey tournament...I haven't heard all of the details, but I did hear that he got an MVP award at one of the semi-final games...may have been the last game they played, I am not sure yet...but anyway...the game was tied 2-2 and went into overtime...remained tied...then went into sudden death...I guess he blocked all 5 shots...Dana was so proud of him..I will be excited to hear about it when everyone gets up...
I think I'm getting old, y'all...I go to bed early and get up REALLY early...that is not right...
WEll, that's it for now...Happy NEW Year everyone...can you believe that is 2009...almost one decade since Y2K

C~

A NW Washington Blizzard !?!?!?!

It has been SO cold the past week and a half or so and snow has been falling ALMOST everyday...this is the most snow for the longest time periond that we have ever had while we have lived here in Marysville...Will it be a WHite Christmas? Will we all get snowed in and unable to get where we need to go? I am not sure...but here are some pictures from my house!







BEAUTIFUL!

We also made all of the gifts for our extended family this year...I hope they like them, we all really had a great time making them...I'll tell you more about them AFTER Christmas!

Merry CHRISTmas Everyone!
C~

4 months...

That's how long it's been since blogging...I've heard that there have been those who have been checking...and Surprise....here is a new post....Well, it's been a whirlwind 4 months...when I last posted, David had just had his surgery...he probably had his cathetar pulled on that very day...So August and September had us VERY concerned with Joshua's health and we ended up taking him to Children's Hospital on September 13th...We had been trying to get him healthy in more natural methods, but as he was not putting on weight and slowly losing, we just got to the place where we could not have him one more pound down. We stayed in the hospital for 6 days and had MANY tests done...and were given the diagnosis of basically Juvenile Arthritis...so he has a mixture of meds that is helping him to feel better and EAT MORE...in the six weeks since we have been out of the hospital, he has gained 27 pounds and we are thrilled...pretty soon we are going to have to make good on a promise...when he reaches 100 pounds, we told him he could have a cell phone...I am on the quest for how to fill up teenagers and when I figure it out, I will probably write a book...
Speaking of books...ever the book lover...I am reading a couple of good ones right now...
Do Hard Things...a great book to motivate your teens (maybe even tweens) to rebel against low expectations...
I just finished a book about Princess Grace that was interesting...didn't really know anything about her, Rainier or Monacco before...or her death...
I'm also reading John Adams by David McCullough...I enjoyed 1776, so I am looking forward to this...the trouble is that I am reading it before bed, so I only get a page or two done night...even that will get me through it eventually...after that, I have another McCullough book on Harry Truman...I am looking forward to reading that because he was not considered a good President until many years after his term...interested in learning more about his life...
I have been collecting books for our history year...Fall of Rome through American/French Revolutions
So enough about books...the holidays are upon us and we are in the middle of planning our gift giving...we will be making A LOT of what we are giving and are gathering supplies and ideas. I think we will be making our first things early next week. Any great ideas you would all like to share? I'm not going to share much here...just in case anyone is peeking. We have hockey tournaments Thanksgiving Weekend and Christmas weekend beginning with the day after, so we will need to be organized, which is laughable if you know us well!!!
We are frantically sanding some 1 x 4 pieces of wood for a craft bazaar this weekend at church...I felt kind of bad not getting very much done, so I had an idea to make these nativity sets, which we are making for Christmas, but I am leaving these ones unpainted...so people can paint them how they like...anyway...the sanding is going SOOOOOO SLOOOOOOWWWWWW...what I wouldn't give for an electric sander right now...if I didn't always get these last minute ideas, I'd be doing good...Just call me last minute Larry...
Well, I need to go...gotta get busy getting children doing what they need to do...
Talk to you soon!
Carrie

Serendipity Blog Challenge

So Serendipity is having a blog party and the challenge this time is for posting a scraplift...which I am doing here....I found this board book in a Christmas Kit...I knew it was there, but didn't have a need for it, so I never looked real close at it...well it was a super cool Urban Lily secret Keeper book...when I looked at it, I couldn't believe the little treasure I had...so I am now on the quest to get more of these, but here is a baby album I made from this one...
So THanks Eliabeth for the idea...
Also, Kim's Challenge this week was to write about someone special to you....I am not sure why I think of Laura when I hear things like this, but she really taught me the importance of telling people you love them...Laura was a dear old lady in our church...mostly known as the cookie lady...she ALWAYS HAD COOKIES...anyway, she was very dear to me...when I was pregnant with Grace, before we knew we were having a girl, she told me...I am crocheting you a blanket...it's pink....I thought that was funny....but she seemed to know...then after Grace had been here a few months, she asked if Ruth Circle had made me a quilt...I said no, but that she had given me that blanket...well that wasn't good enough...so I got a beautiful quilt as well....
Then in July, we were working on Vacation Bible School...she was the snack lady and we were planning the shopping list...so we had talked and she was working away, serving the Lord...one hour later she had passed away...that's how I want to go...serving the Lord...anyway, this was a wake up call for me...I never told her how much I loved her and how special she was to me...there are other people that mean more to me than Laura, but she is the reason that they all know that I love them....

C~

Take me out to the ball game...

Well, I hear TWO DAYS LATER....that my daughter made her SINGING DEBUT at an EVERETT MERCHANTS baseball game....I am still irritated at this....no one even MENTIONED IT...
So the announcer asked the fans if anyone would like to come up to the press box and sing Take me out to the ball game in the mic...so my daughter goes up there, EVEN THOUGH SHE DOESN'T EVEN KNOW THE WHOLE SONG and sings it....I cannot believe her...she is going to experience life SO MUCH because she is not afraid to try...so we have been practicing a little...there is a game on Thursday...I'll let you know if she sings again....

C~

Freedom

I am getting SO tired of everyone spouting their rights when questioned about things that aren't really appropriate for the general public....filth being produced under the freedom of speech right....vulgar, course talk spoken before the innocent ears of children....disgusting bumper stickers....and much more...I think you get the idea...
Sometimes FREEDOM means restraining self for the good of those around you...even though you have the RIGHT to speak however you like, is it really best for the 3 year old at the next table to hear? Just irks me to have my children exposed to such filth...all in the name of FREE SPEECH and such nonsense...

Off my soap box now...

Independence Day

I will tell you, this year, I have a new appreciation for this holiday...I have studied the Constitution and I actually know what it says...I have gone a little bit into the background of this time period ( not a lot, just a little.) I have seen some of the foresight of our founding fathers and seen that these men were truly ordinary men who met with extraordinary circumstances and rose to meet them with courage and integrity. Could these same things be said about our own generation? That is not for me to say...I am not one of the super intelligenzia of our time...I am a mom...a mom who loves America and is trying to pass this on to my children...I had the opportunity to watch a re-enactment of the Virginia delegation debating the issue of going to war with England...I have copied Patick Henry's speech below...we all know the famous line...but do we know the rest of the story...This Fourth of July, I will read this with my children and we will remember ALL Americans who have fought for freedom for me and my CHildren....Happy Independence Day!
C~


No man thinks more highly than I do of the patriotism, as well as abilities, of the very worthy gentlemen who have just addressed the House. But different men often see the same subject in different lights; and, therefore, I hope that it will not be thought disrespectful to those gentlemen, if, entertaining as I do opinions of a character very opposite to theirs, I shall speak forth my sentiments freely and without reserve.

This is no time for ceremony. The question before the House is one of awful moment to this country. For my own part I consider it as nothing less than a question of freedom or slavery; and in proportion to the magnitude of the subject ought to be the freedom of the debate. It is only in this way that we can hope to arrive at truth, and fulfill the great responsibility which we hold to God and our country. Should I keep back my opinions at such a time, through fear of giving offense, I should consider myself as guilty of treason towards my country, and of an act of disloyalty towards the majesty of heaven, which I revere above all earthly kings.

Mr. President, it is natural to man to indulge in the illusions of hope. We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth, and listen to the song of that siren, till she transforms us into beasts. Is this the part of wise men, engaged in a great and arduous struggle for liberty? Are we disposed to be of the number of those who, having eyes, see not, and having ears, hear not, the things which so nearly concern their temporal salvation?

For my part, whatever anguish of spirit it may cost, I am willing to know the whole truth -- to know the worst and to provide for it. I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided; and that is the lamp of experience. I know of no way of judging of the future but by the past. And judging by the past, I wish to know what there has been in the conduct of the British ministry for the last ten years, to justify those hopes with which gentlemen have been pleased to solace themselves and the House?

Is it that insidious smile with which our petition has been lately received? Trust it not, sir; it will prove a snare to your feet. Suffer not yourselves to be betrayed with a kiss. Ask yourselves how this gracious reception of our petition comports with these warlike preparations which cover our waters and darken our land. Are fleets and armies necessary to a work of love and reconciliation? Have we shown ourselves so unwilling to be reconciled that force must be called in to win back our love? Let us not deceive ourselves, sir. These are the implements of war and subjugation -- the last arguments to which kings resort. I ask gentlemen, sir, what means this martial array, if its purpose be not to force us to submission? Can gentlemen assign any other possible motives for it? Has Great Britain any enemy, in this quarter of the world, to call for all this accumulation of navies and armies?

No, sir, she has none. They are meant for us; they can be meant for no other. They are sent over to bind and rivet upon us those chains which the British ministry have been so long forging. And what have we to oppose to them? Shall we try argument? Sir, we have been trying that for the last ten years. Have we anything new to offer on the subject? Nothing.

We have held the subject up in every light of which it is capable; but it has been all in vain. Shall we resort to entreaty and humble supplication? What terms shall we find which have not been already exhausted? Let us not, I beseech you, sir, deceive ourselves longer.

Sir, we have done everything that could be done to avert the storm which is now coming on. We have petitioned; we have remonstrated; we have supplicated; we have prostrated ourselves before the throne, and have implored its interposition to arrest the tyrannical hands of the ministry and Parliament.

Our petitions have been slighted; our remonstrances have produced additional violence and insult; our supplications have been disregarded; and we have been spurned, with contempt, from the foot of the throne. In vain, after these things, may we indulge the fond hope of peace and reconciliation. There is no longer any room for hope.

If we wish to be free -- if we mean to preserve inviolate those inestimable privileges for which we have been so long contending -- if we mean not basely to abandon the noble struggle in which we have been so long engaged, and which we have pledged ourselves never to abandon until the glorious object of our contest shall be obtained, we must fight! I repeat it, sir, we must fight! An appeal to arms and to the God of Hosts is all that is left us!

They tell us, sir, that we are weak -- unable to cope with so formidable an adversary. But when shall we be stronger? Will it be the next week, or the next year? Will it be when we are totally disarmed, and when a British guard shall be stationed in every house? Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction? Shall we acquire the means of effectual resistance, by lying supinely on our backs, and hugging the delusive phantom of hope, until our enemies shall have bound us hand and foot?

Sir, we are not weak, if we make a proper use of the means which the God of nature hath placed in our power. Three millions of people, armed in the holy cause of liberty, and in such a country as that which we possess, are invincible by any force which our enemy can send against us. Besides, sir, we shall not fight our battles alone. There is a just God who presides over the destinies of nations, and who will raise up friends to fight our battles for us.

The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave. Besides, sir, we have no election. If we were base enough to desire it, it is now too late to retire from the contest. There is no retreat but in submission and slavery! Our chains are forged! Their clanking may be heard on the plains of Boston! The war is inevitable -- and let it come! I repeat it, sir, let it come!

It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, "Peace! Peace!" -- but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death!

Patrick Henry - March 23, 1775

The comes the morning

Well, We are into day two after surgery, and it has been better than I expected...David has been SUCH a little trooper...and I am grateful for that... I am also so grateful for all of those who brought us before the throne of grace and left us in the arms of the Father.
I posted a big update about David here:
http://www.serendipityscrapbooks.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=10437

So I won't repeat all of that here...
David is so funny though...when we were checking in, they have a couple of fish tanks with guess WHO??? Yep, Nemo...so he was saying (Quite LOUDLY) "Memo"...and in the pre-op stuff....Memo, Memo, Memo...then he comes out of recovery and he says, "momma" (Gotcha didn't I?), then he says, "Memo"...hysterical...so we have watched Memo" several times...Can't get it out of his brain....kinda like the song...

"It's a small world after all...."
Now that's stuck in your head, isn't it????

Will post later about the 4th...
C~

Discouraging News

So, tomorrow David is going to have surgery...a minor procedure to correct his privates...My oldest had it too, so at least we know what to expect there...

So at Children's, they wait until the DAY BEFORE SURGERY to let you know what time it will be at...so we get our call today....His surgery is at 1:45 pm...He cannot eat FOOD past 5:30 am AND he cannot have anything to drink PAST 9:30 am...I have no idea why, but this news just set me off to tears....poor little baby...so I think I have my plan for how we will handle this....in case you do not know our family, we are LUCKY if we are thinking about food, much less UP AND MOVING around at 9:30 am...
So, I think I will set an alarm for 4:00 am and wake David up...get him moving and all...let him have his milk and eat breakfast...then he can have apple juice or water until 9:30...then HOPEFULLY by then, he will be ready for a nap and we can go without food or drinks easily enough...
Please be praying for us...it is a minor procedure...nothing life threatening or anything, but any surgery can have complications and such...we greatly appreciate being covered in prayer...
THank you!
C~

This shows a Father's sacrificial love for his son...amazing...I was not prepared for this...

Don't forget to pause the player below before playing this...

Hallelujah Chris Rice

Nothing says it better than this...

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah



(I think you will need to scroll down to the play list and stop that before you click on this...otherwise you will hear two songs at the same time...not too enjoyable..I think there is a pause button or something)

Homeschooling

Well, It has been a while since I have blogged...been busy, busy, awfully busy...

anyway, I was thinking about the last post and how I started scrappin'...I thought I would tell about my homeschool journey as well...

About the time I had Joshua, I heard about this crazy thing called homeschooling...I have a very good friend who walked down the parenting path before me and gave me all sorts of info that meant that I KNEW THE RIGHT WAY TO PARENT...amazing how quickly that all falls apart when the rubber hits the road...anyway, I had never heard about it before, so I thought I would find out about it and ask my husband what he thought...

Our reasons for going down this path back then were so basic at the time...to teach from our worldview...to be the main influence in their lives, rather than peers....etc

So when Joshua was 18 months old, we went to our first conference and saw what homeschooling looked like....little did we know then that that was ONE view of what homeschooling looked like...and there are as many views as there are homeschoolers...

Well, I have the PERFECT OLDEST child and HE DID the PERFECT OLDEST child kind of stuff...reading basic words at three...boxcar children and such at five...so I thought, as all rational people think...that this was going to be a snap...boy was I greatly deceived....

So, after either 8 or 14 years of homeschooling (two different views....one... actual years of teaching...two...well you've really been teaching since they were born...take your pick and run with it) I have learned a few things...

1) Curriculum may come all in a package and be delievered to your door in this one box...but it rarely goes off like that....one child will thrive on it...another will be stunted by it...a third will tolerate it, but not really reach their potential in it...and on down the line through how many different children you have...Ask questions of people who have homeschooled for a while and listen when the same item comes up over and over again...I know that I have two different kinds of curriculum for most subjects to address this problem.

2) The best history program I have found is Diana Waring's...she does a few things that I LOVE... she teaches from a Biblical view...teaches in a chronological order and gives SUGGESTIONS for projects in many different areas to fit all different kinds of learning styles and modalities, and other things people smarter than me figure out to show us how fearfully and wonderfully our Creator made us! So my Busy bodies and book worms are all relatively happy with this program (It is still school you know!)

3) Reading in all forms is one of the most valuable things you can do, teach, model in your home...I have heard this SO many times...read to your children, read with them, model reading for them...I know this is running rampant in our home...I always have a stack I am reading....My #3 child CONSTANTLY has a book in his hands...can be irritating at times, but a blessing nonetheless...If you model a LOVE for reading, a child can learn anything they set their mind to...I used to freak out about not getting it all done before Graduation...let me tell you this...and this has been one key to peace for me...You will not get it all in...they will keep learning their WHOLE LIFE...this is SO TRUE FOR ME...I know it will be true for them. I do not guide their pleasure reading other than it cannot be trash...things that contradict Scripture...I do guide other reading though and that, besides teaching them things for other subjects, gets them interested in other types of books that might not have otherwise appealed to them. When you are beginning to read in our house...you get a library card or your own...pretty soon, we will need a trailer for getting our library books to and from the library.

4) Surround yourself with a support system- This is vital for many reasons...having like minded friends, to get advice from or help on how to do this or what curriculum should I use for that or you'll never believe what so and so did today...and on those possibilities go...also, there will be those in your acquaitance that will think you have completely lost your mind...DO you POSSIBLY think you can teach YOUR children better than the PROFESSIONALS??? That support system will give you encouragement along the way...and you may have lost your mind, but gained something much better in its place. A varied range of homeschoolers is great to have too....I have been on the two year planning path for high school as my oldest begins this fall...I have a couple of friends who have walked this path before me and have helped me as I walk through this...I am not alone.

5) GO TO A CONFERENCE YEARLY if at all possible...this has been like a shot of vitamins when I am down for the count...I have found that the day to day teaching of school is not the easiest thing...setting aside the little darlings that are BEGGING you for more school (Please note the sarcasm here...you may not know me or my family, so I thought I would point that out, just in case it was missed...my children are normal and would rather play outside than do school), you also have a house to clean, laundry, dishes, meals, little ones who are destroying the house while you are relating the great mysteries of the world and on it goes...a conference gets you energized and excited and ready to do this again for another year and tells you I can do this...I have found that they are WELL WORTH the money spent...

6) Surpise your children along the way...donuts for breakfast or pajama day or park day...etc...it breaks up the monotony and will give them the boost to make it until the next surprise

7)Learn about your children and don't make them fit the molds of someone else...one of my children has a HARD time sitting still...a hard time being inside...a hard time fitting the school mold...I do not expect the same things I do out of my others who can sit still and do their work quietly and such...I give #2 smaller bits and then a break...and such as that...try to give him hands on projects and movement when the choice allows...makes life a little easier...I mean does it really matter if they jumprope to learn math facts? I am looking into ways for him to learn skills to do with his hands...word working, auto repair...yard work...things like that...I think he will do very well with something he can do with his hands...he seems to have a skill here that I want to develop...

8) Do not freak if your child is 8, 9, 10 etc and does not read well...children will read at their own pace...and they all seem to get there (If you believe there is a learning disability or challenge, by all means look into that, but if everything seems normal except the reading is what I mean)and when they do, you cannot tell the late bloomers from the early birds....forcing something that is difficult though can do damage...I have heard of many homeschoolers that had children who didn't really read until 12 or so...I have had early readers as well as reluctant readers...my reluctant one still would rather be outside and active than reading a book...so we will see what comes of that....he can read though and does some reading.



My homeschool journey has meandered along the way as we have progressed on this path...what began all those years ago at point "A"...has broadened to include more...being able to adapt for different learning styles and personalities...giving room for delight directed study, building and developing familial relationships...guiding them along the path to adulthood...While this sounds good in writing, we have ugly days...we've been in the trenches and I am sure we will be there again...we just really believe in the God given right to direct our children's education...its not easy, but SO worth it...and just to dispel the two greatest myths of homeschooling:
1) My children are not social freaks...we don't lock them up in the house never to be seen again...the get plenty of socialization

2) I have not been endowed with a superabundance of patience...I get mine the same way everyone else does...by being tested to practice patience...I have successes and I have failures...



Blessings and encouragement along the way!
C~

Serendipity Challenge

I love Serendipity Scrapbooks...shameless plug time...and for the blog challenge on that site, we are to talk about when we started scrapbooking...etc...so here I go

I started scrapbooking when my #2 son was born...I'd never heard of it before then and about the only one on the bandwagon then was CM (Creative Memories)...so I scrapped the CM way...as I have walked this road for 11 years now, CM went one direction and the industry went another direction...as CM got simpler and simpler, I was also exposed to other scrappers who really went all out on their pages and I loved the look much better than my pages...so about 10 albums into my scrapping journey, I have totally changed my look...makes me feel sad for my older albums, but I am so far behind that I probably will never get back to re-do them...I love that this is a RELATIVELY (think knitting, quilting, cross-stitch, etc) quick way to creatively express yourself while preserving a legacy to pass onto your children...
If you are new to scrapbooking, I would like to encourage you to:
1) journal in your own handwriting...the computer fonts are cool and there are so many, but in 40 years, that will mean nothing to your family, but your handwriting will be precious to them
2) Scrap your faith...for me, my faith in Christ is something that IS...let that come out in your journaling...again, this will be precious years from now...I do this some, but need to do it more...
3) Scrap about yourself...your favs, dreams, difficulties, etc...
4) Get one of those ATG adhesive guns...expensive at first, cheap refills, and as Kim says, "adhesive on steriods" This is AMAZING adhesive!
5) DO not be afraid to cut your pictures, but I would recommend that you do not cut into a whole bunch of cute shapes....a couple of years down the road, you will wonder why on earth you did that.
6) Sign up on the Serendipity Message board and gallery...you will get SO much inspiration ( www.serendipityscrapbooks.com )...there are MANY other message boards as well... (I am clueless to what the really great ones are!) www.cropaddict.com is another fav...Serendipity is owned by a friend though, so a little favoritism is allowed...
7) If at all possible, set up a PLACE to scrap...if it is out, you can sit down for smaller time periods and get pages done by degrees...this is not my preferred method of cranking out many pages, but when life is happening, sometimes it's the only way to get things done...I mean dinner for my beloved husband and children REALLY IS MORE IMPORTANT than that page I would REALLY like to get done..., but if I am set up, I might be able to crop photos, or get papers adhered to a page, lay down some stickles...you have to wait two hours anyway...etc...while dinner is in the oven!~
I hope that helps...also, do not worry about being like so and so famous scrapper or Sally Sue down the road...the way you scrap is perfect for you...that being said, do not be afraid to try something new or come out of your box...you never know what you'll discover!

Carrie

Monday or Tuesday

I posted this on a message board, but wanted to share it here too...because it really shows how scary I can be...so here is Monday's post on Tuesday...

Well we have had a crazy weekend and are starting the week off kinda crazy too!

All last week was spent preparing for a yard sale and I will just say this...in 12 hours we made this amount...then we list two things on craigslist and within twelve hours sold two bigger items and made more than double what we made during the two day garage sale....hmmm...maybe that should tell me something!
So we still have a few big items that I will gradually be listing on Craigslist, then I will make some goodwill trips, then HOPEFULLY, we will have an EMPTY GARAGE...oh that will be the day~!So in between all of this, on Thursday I went to a play and got to see only half of it because DAVID had had ENOUGH!
Friday was a co-op meeting and garage sale
Saturday was Garage Sale and women's night...
Sunday-Church...then I wanted to crash, but my house is a pit, so we worked on that a little....
Today, school, skating lessons, trip to the ortho because Joshua is out of rubber bands...AND we have to be there next week....and a homeschool meeting tonight

I wanted to tell you all about the women's night we had a church...it was alot of fun...they called it the Parade of Aprons...you were supposed to bring an appetizer and the recipe for it...they had some cooking type conversation starters...like what was the worst thing you ever made, etc...then a friend and I each did a make and take recipe card...they turned out cool...so we had about 12 ladies making these cards...they had some little prizes...it was fun...

Anyway, I got there a little early, because I live life on the edge and had no idea what on earth I was going to do for my make and take...so I was grabbing the paper cutter from the copy room and misjudged the door opening...clonked the cutter into the door and the cutter jabbed me in the eye...it hurt SO bad...I was laughing ( because I couldn't believe I was so stupid) and crying because it hurt so bad...I put my hand up to it and then looked at my hand...there was blood all over... so I went to the bathroom to clean up..and it is this LITTLE NICK OF A THING....bled like I had a GASH and needed stitches...I couldn't believe it. SO it swelled up and I had this mini goose egg of a thing on my eye....today it is turning purple...it's not real big...it just hurts like it is...so if you see me, you can rest assured that I should not be trusted with particular things and that nothing with a spectacular story happened....and you can laugh with me....just don't let me catch you doing it...it really did hurt!

Well, because I do that kind of stupid stuff all the time....both physically and spiritually, I am really GLAD that God's mercies are NEW every morning....clean slate...and we can do it again and by God's grace it will be better, because we will have learned a lesson from our Father God and we are walking with the indwelling Spirit guiding us into all truth...If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
It doesn't have to be a Manic Monday~!
Recipe cards...My friend made the top one...I made the bottom one...

Front...

Back...

C~

How many emails did I have?

Do you see that? 9510...Insane!

Okay, Croppycatter is closest with 1200...email me your address and I will send out a prize...Congratulations!

This week has BEEN BUSY!

The days just have flown by and I still have things to do... Today, I am having a yard sale, need to finish 2 LO's, prepare an appetizer and a make and take for a ladies night at church all while taking care of my five blessings and my sweetheart. Whew...I am tired just thinking about it! So off I go to work on a couple of things before it's time to pull everything out of the garage! Happy Saturday everyone!
C~

Congratulations Sweet Memory Winner!

Congratulations Joanna! You are the winner of my sweet memory contest!
I hope you enjoy your sweet treat...a $20 gift card to Coldstone Creamery...I know you have one "near" you...so I don't have to ask!
Thank you to everyone who shared this special memory with me...

C~

The Computer is back home!

Well, my laptop is back home and working somewhat...there is a couple of things that need to be tweaked...and I am SO happy....clicked on my outlook and received my messages...so this post is another challenge...with a scrappin' RAK...so, how many emails did I receive? It's been gone for a couple of months....give me your best guess...I will post the answer on Saturday, June 1st....

My computer gal put me into Outlook instead of Outlook Express and that is challenging for me...I REALLY liked Outlook Express...she says I will like this better...so we will see!

My son also got his email set up...he is so happy...BUT his email isn't working yet...that is one of the things we need to tweak...hopefully later today we'll get that fixed...

I am home today sick (from Church) with David and Grace...we all have the coughing/running nose junk that's going around. I was coughing SO bad yesterday, I could BARELY talk...used my Vick's type vapor rub on the feet and slept good...I am going to try to make my own Vick's rub using an unpetroleum jelly...I'll let you know how that works.

Well, gotta go...don't forget...give me the best guess on the number of emails I got...I will choose the closest too...under or over....

C~

The necklace

Okay, I just wanted to show you all the necklace Grace made just in case you didn't believe me on the last day of co-op post...

Isn't this pretty?

C~

What are your fond memories of this place?

This takes me back to such a wonderful time in my childhood...a time that seems so perfect in my memory...makes me SO sad that it isn't here for my children, but after they were laughing at this video, I think they don't deserve it....now (and don't you ever tell them I said this) the video is kinda funny...everyone didn't look this funny when we were little...

There is another one here: http://www.happyitis.biz/multimedia/zoorunning.wmv

Remember any of this?

I found this among my things:

The pictures are so small, it is hard to read, but remember the Pig Trough? Didn't people who finished this on their own get a ribbon that said, "I made a pig of myself at Farrell's" ?

THe Hot Fudge Nutty Nutty was probably our favorite...or a butterscotch shake...mmmm...okay, I am in happy place right now...

So, is there a place your family always went to for birthdays or special occasions? Do you have a particular memory that is just IT for you?

Makes me think...one day, God will wipe away every tear...there will be no more sadness, no more sin, we will have great joy worshipping at the feet of our Savior...now I don't know much about what is going to happen in heaven and I am not going to even think about it...we couldn't even think up anything as good as what God has for His people in eternity. Gives us hope to keep on when your house is falling apart and a good friend is dying of cancer and you need a $2,000 repair on your car and you just got paid and you have $5 to last for two weeks and you fill in your details...I'm just making them up as I go...cling to the cross of Christ dear ones...one thing I know...it's better than any hot fudge nutty nutty!

Death of a Crockpot

This post is in remembrance of my crock pot who has served me well for 6 months. She died a tragic death when she fell out of our pantry and her head (lid)cracked into a hundred pieces. She was preceded in death by her brother crock-pot who met with an untimely death the first time he was used at the hands of my eleven year old son "helping" me load the car. She may be able to be resurrected into useful service if this owner can find a replacement lid...until then, may she Rest In Peace...

Can you all believe it? I have gone through TWO crockpots in SIX months.....aaaauuuuuugggggghhhhhhh!
At least we are going towards summer and not winter....see there is ALWAYS SOMETHING to praise God for!

C~

My Corner of the House...

Well, this is my little corner of the world...I am hoping that it gives encouragement to many who do not have scrap spaces to rival those in the magazines...I would say that most of us do not have the space or the money to create rooms that belong in Beautiful Home magazine...but, what do we have...do we have a corner of a livingroom, bedroom or office...do we have a room dedicated for this...
Well, my space is in our Sunroom...it is hot in the summer and cold in the winter...we are hoping to lay down some carpet and close up a couple of skylights (they leak and the sun fades EVERYTHING left out)...maybe then it won't be so dramatic.
My table is one of those plastic banquet tables that we got from Costco several years ago...to the side of this, I have two carts with paper in them
The bookshelf was one of those that had the glass doors that pull down from each shelf...a couple of the runners had broken, so when we pulled it out of our hall, I put it in here....all of my supplies are seperated out by type...works for me!

I have several things on the floor by my feet...mostly because it is a mish-mash of things that I don't feel like figuring out what to do with it....
This again, is my workspace...VERY CLEAN right now...I look out the window to a lilac bush...my favorite! My poor little Cricut is broken...a child fell on it....makes me so sad!
This is the view out my other window...so peaceful...I love this spot!

So what is your spot like...if you have a beautiful room with lots of pretty organizers and you are blessed with the gift of making it look cool, then I am rejoicing with you...maybe one day, mine will look cool too...right now though, I am making the best of what I have and I am so thankful for it!

Blessings,
Carrie

Beautiful Saturday...

It is a wonderfully beautiful Saturday morning and I thought I would take just a moment and express my thankfulness for this incredible day...It is already about 80 degrees, but a slight breeze is blowing through the house, keeping it cool for now...Living in Washington State, we don't see that foreign body that is known as the sun...the lilac's are blooming and wafting their intoxicating fragrance...it is a BEAUTFIUL day...We are doing some housework right now, but I plan on taking it easy in the scrap room later...)I think I will write about my scrap space soon, lest you think I have it better than I do) I have so many photos to get caught up on...

We went to a garage sale today...it was to benefit cancer research...I found a couple of shorts for David, but the build-up for this sale was bigger than what was there...I was a little disappointed. This makes me wonder, what causes would you champion for....I had a garage sale once to raise money for a gal who wanted to go out on a short term mission's trip...I have been the co-ordinator for gathering school supplies for our local schools for children who couldn't afford them...I have donated things for various missionaries...Missions is where my heart is, I guess...

I would love to take a cross country trip to see the best of what each state has to offer...I was thinking today about how I could make that dream a reality and wondering if we as a family could combine our fundraising ideas to start a cross country educational fund...I might even start with a cookbook....know any good recipes?

I hope your Saturday is as beautiful as mine!

C~

Wedding Album, Once Again

Well, this is the wedding that never seems to end... to refresh you all, my niece got married in November...for Christmas, I made her, her father and her uncle albums. For Mother's Day, I made my MIL an album...then on Monday, I just found out my MIL and niece were going to see my SIL...so as I am talking to my MIL, I am formulating this plan in my mind to finish my SIL album, so she can have it this weekend. Then I find out (Remember, this was MONDAY), that they are leaving on Wednesday afternoon...less than two days to get this done...well, I put everything aside and worked on this for the two days...when my niece stopped by on Wednesday to pick it up...I WAS TWO PAGES SHORT...oh the agony...so I sent the album off...and the two pages are still on my table...I just cannot face it yet...the stinker is that I really like some of the pages I made for her album...I told my niece...Man, I should have made your album last...you know what that means....Mine will be the best (Oh, I can't believe I am even thinking about ONE MORE ALBUM...)Well, after I get a break from seeing the same pictures six times over, I will be able to tackle this project...again....
C~

Last Day of Co-op

Well, today was the last day of our homeschool co-op...and I must say, I am glad...I love co-op, but toward the end, I am SO ready to be done...
This term, I taught one class...We the People...it was an overview government class that mostly covered The Constitution. I learned SO much and I hope the kids did too...there were 13 kids in that class...in the fall term, I will teach an election class...not so much teach as facilitate...these kids are going to have an actual election to see who will be President of Co-op. I am hoping to include campaigning, fundraising, debates, advestising, somehow have an electoral college and then a victory party after the work is done...we'll see how it turns out..
Anyway, that was the only class I taught this term...I helped in one class called K-3 Potpourri...this was the BEST class...the class had the same name for two periods, but the class that I helped in did FUN stuff...we made film canister rockets, cards, bookmarks, bee may day baskets, talked about leap year and a solar eclipse, played games, did puzzles..then the kicker was the Mother's Day project...they made beaded necklaces...now these are NOT the macaroni or pony bead type things that you really DO NOT WANT TO WEAR and try to shove into a drawer a month later...these were BEAUTIFUL!~ I was so impressed with the projects this teacher came up with...I think we are going to plan to work together again in the fall and do a Christmas gifts class...different things they can make for Christmas Gifts.
The last class I was in (all parents must help or teach in some way each period) was a High School writing class...that was a lot of fun...today the topic was Boys vs. girls and I must say, the boys were not happy with the direction of the essay...it was a lot of laughs though...
On a sad note, one family will be moving to Japan for about a year...her husband has been over there working for months and his job needs him there longer, so off they go...we are looking forward to when they come back, but it is still sad to say goodbye for a time...I am now VERY thankful for email!
We still have our school work though...HOPEFULLY, we can get on track with our daily work now that we do not have to worry about what is needed each week for co-op...we'll see...
Well, as it feels like about 85 degrees inside this house, I am feeling VERY lethargic...I am thankful that my honey is cooking tonight...it will be a late dinner, but no complaining here!

How's your day going?
C~

Retreat

Well, I am back from the retreat and rested now...lots of talking, laughing, babies...a great time... We arrived on Friday evening and got settled in...my goal, besides getting to know these ladies better was to finish a wedding album for my Mother-In-Law from my niece's wedding. I was able to get quite a bit of scrapbooking in and finished the album. YEAH! This retreat was very different to any I had been to before in that....It was mostly about rest and fellowship...no speaker, no notes, etc...And boy did we talk about just about everything under the sun. I am so glad that it worked out for me to go.

When I got home, I had a surprise...now I know this is NO BIG DEAL for most, but I have been asking my husband for this for MANY YEARS...so I walk in the house, set my bag down and turn into the dining room to see a white board on the wall...I cannot even tell you how excited I am about this...I have been writing a morning greeting on it for my family for a couple of weeks now and this will make life a little easier (won't tip off the counter and clonk me on the head anymore)...Also, I need this SO often throughout the day...school stuff, chores, important family news...etc...

Grace got a couple of new dresses...she looks SO ladylike in them...just look at this...

They are SO Long...I hemmed this one up a bit, but it is still long...she looks so sweet and ladylike in this...

Well, I think that is it for now...my brain is becoming mush...I think I am getting a little bit tired...

Talk to you soon!
C~

Tea Parties and Retreat

I can't remember if I talked about the Mad Hatter Tea Party Online Crop at Serendipity Scrapbooks...it was a blast! I actually got 6 layouts done...the design team came up with some FABULOUS challenges all set in the Alice in Wonderland theme...I am pleased with what I did and everyone else who participated was sure busy with their layouts too!

Here are a couple of the ones I did...

Queen of my heart is Miss Grace with her silly facial expressions...Full HOuse of Love was a challenge to use a card in the layout somewhere...6 Year old drama queen is my daughter again...I was trying to get some picts of her with a good smile, but they were kinda cheesy, so I kept saying, okay...one more...so she got tired of that real quick and some picts show her pouting, making a funny face, etc...

The pink Layout says "I'm a Mom"...this was a challenge to show pictures of the "hats" we where as moms...So I have pictures of my hands doing things I do each day...washing dishes, laundry, teaching school...etc...the last two picts were inspired by a great song, called...what else??? I'm a Mom....I'll copy it below, but the tooth brusher and potty flusher come from it...the song lyrics are also the journaling on the page....

I see every hour that’s on the clock
I hit the ground running and I never stop
While I do the work of a hundred men
I get it done by the sweat of my brow
And most folks marvel at just how
I get up in the morning and I do it all again
Three hundred sixty-five days a year
I’m paving a new frontier
And I’m a long, long way from the queen of the prom
From Monday to Sunday without fail
Rain or shine or sleet or hail
I’m a hard working woman, I’m a mom
I’m the ringmaster of the three ring circus
That I fondly call my home
I’m a peacekeeper, part time preacher
Coach and chaperone
I’m the head carpooler, the golden ruler
And my life’s a marathon
I’m a hard working woman, I’m a mom
Yes it’s true as some suggest
I should wear an “S” upon my chest
And have my face on the cover of a magazine
I can leap tall buildings with a single bound
And on the average, pound for pound
I’m the bestest mom my kids have ever seen
I’m the ringmaster of the three ring circus
That I fondly call my home
I’m the mediator, exterminator
Savings and loan
I’m a tooth fairy, a dictionary and a lexicon
I’m a hard working woman, I’m a mom
Well it’s a thankless job at times
I get beat down by the daily grind
And people ask what planet I am from
But when I tuck in my kids, turn out the light
They say, “I love you” and hold me tight
I remember how glad I am to be a mom
I’m the ringmaster of the three ring circus
That I fondly call my home
I’m the tooth brusher, the potty flusher
My life is not my own
I’m the bed maker, the cookie baker
But above and beyond
I’m a hard working woman, I’m a mom

Great, Great song! It is written by Kenna Turner West

So...I am going to a homeschool Mom's retreat this weekend, which means I will not be able to attend our Mother's Day Tea at church, with my daughter...she is bummed, but I think I will try to see if we can go out to tea next week...we have a couple of little tea houses in our neighborhood...they may be all booked with Mother/Daughter events already...

I had two dresses made for her...and they came today...they are so long though, that I think I will need to hem them...they are REALLY long...she is tall for her age, but this is a bit much...they are beautiful though...in the Pride and Prejudice style...She really needed a couple of new dresses and this lady contacted some people (that she had sewn for before)about making the dresses at her cost, so I figured it was a good deal...so much in the stores makes them look like little adults...I want her to look like a girl for as long as I can.

Well, I need to get back to reality here at the house!
See you all later!
C~

Fuzzi Bunz part 2

Well, almost two weeks ago, I posted about these....they are now all gone!!!! No more basket full of them always in the way....I am doin' a little happy dance!

C~

Stop the Planet, I want to get off!

Well, it has been a BUSY couple of weeks...Starting with the homeschool convention, which was FABULOUS!!! Homeschool Conventions are like an energy boost to get you to keep on keepin' on....this conference was SO life changing as well!
Then it was David's Birthday...my BABY turned TWO!!! (He got his Daddy's Dimples...I LOVE IT!)

Then it was back to school work and our weekday schedules....

Wednesday is usually my busy day...we go to the chiropractor, then I work at church and then during most of the school year, it is AWANA...well AWANA is over now...so we just have the two...I had planned to have a busy day nonetheless...So off to the chiropractor we go...I am about 3/4 of the way there and notice...I don't have my purse...no license, no money, no debit card...so there went shopping and coffee...so I am thinking about how I am going to structure my day....so I'll go straight to the church after the chiropractor...then I notice....I don't have my work....so we went to the chiropractor...and WENT HOME...I called the pastor and said...I am having a crazy day, so I think I will be in on Friday....thankfully, as long as the bulletin is ready on Sunday morning, they are VERY flexible with me.

On Friday, I had an AWANA girls overnight at our church...we brought some scrapbooking materials for the girls to work with and had a great time together...well, except for the 3:30 am bit...I kept saying....girls...Mrs. C. gets cranky when she doesn't get any sleep....I kept on razzing them about it, but they FINALLY fell asleep...one gal fell asleep in a chair holding a football...it was SO cute...I wish I had my camera! In the morning, we had breakfast...well, I should say THEY had Super Sweety Sugar Bombs...I am so not ready for that in the morning...especially when I haven't had enough SLEEP!

Got home at about 11:30 am...and tried to participate in an online crop...I really didn't get much done until after my husband and one of my children left for the Mariner's game....get this (MAJOR RABBIT TRAIL HERE)it took them OVER TWO HOURS TO GET THERE...they missed half of the game...I guess traffic was a nightmare and there were two major events down there, no parking... but that is just crazy...I mean, we are not LA or NY....

I got six LO's done this weekend for the crop...I took some picts of the children on Saturday and I love how some of them turned out...my favorite was a series I took of my daughter...

These were taken over a period of about 2 minutes...really shows her emotions...my favorite out of the group though, was...

THIS ONE...Beautiful!

We had church and a family party this weekend for David...Grandma, Uncle Dale, Aunt Christina and Cousin Danny came over...we made lasagne, salad and had garlic bread...it was a good time...after we were cleaned up, I stayed up and finished three lo's...the crop was a blast...Kristen (owner) and the design team came up with a great theme and FABULOUS CHALLENGES! I loved them...I am going to try to do the ones I didn't have time for...they were all SO great.

I got some picts of the older boys too, but that is another story for a different day.

Well, today is Tuesday and I better get going...we need to get alot done today and I am craving some coffee!

C~

3rd Annual Christian Heritage Conference, day 1

Well, the first day of this conference is over now and I was not disappointed. This was fabulous and may take a few days to process, but I wanted to write about it while it was fresh in my mind. First of all, this is a homeschool conference with an emphasis on family discipleship. Doug Phillips, founder of Vision Forum Ministries is the key note speaker and if that was all there was, it would be well worth the price of the conference. He has been speaking on a couple of themes, but with an emphasis on having a multi generational mindset, rather than just trying to get through today. It was exciting as he shared experiences from his family of this walk along, talk along mentorship that is so vital throughout the homeschooling process. It's not just talking at your children, but talking to them, sharing with them the reasons for this or that...why we homeschool, why we have the convctions we have...Fathers, taking their sons and /or daughters with them to work, having special alone time with them and such. (It was sweet as he shared an incident in which a girl was talking to him about having mulit-generational toys...dolls she could pass onto her children or grandchildren...very sweet) At another session, he shared Victories...moments large and small which define our lives...Some of his points were: the nobility of the commonplace- putting a high value on the duties of life, Preciousness of child-like faith, the humor of family idiosyncrases-is it obvious that members of your family are____________ (fill in your last name here), is there a defining attribute that all of your family has..., The Blessing of the Family Table-mealtime is a special way to cement our bonds as families and talk, learn, grow, teach..., Enthusiasm of the Cowboy years...I loved this story...He spoke about how one of his sons reports for duty dressed like a soldier every morning and Daddy gives him special tasks that only he can do and wraps it up in an exciting story so he can conquer...the particular example he gave was that bears had got into the girls' room and spread garbage around. Could he go and clean it up. What a great way to cherish the boyhood enthusiasm. There were many other points made, but I will have to process and claim it as my own before I can articulate on it.
In between the keynote sessions, there were many different seminars you could choose to go to...One talked about the possiblity of peaceful and productive days happening as the NORM rather than frenzied, fruitless, frustrating days, IF we choose to put first things first...I know I was SUPER convicted in this seminar...It is unbelievable how much time I waste and look at as a right rather than a waste...how if I practice choosing the better, more valuable things...the putting first things first...We can have so much more in our lives...Some of her other points were: No is absolutely necessary, head for the heart and trust the Lord. This was a great workshop.
Then I heard Jessica Erber-she is such a beautiful and sweet girl...her workshop was encouraging daughters to be purposeful in their support of the family rather than just existing until they got on to real life when married.
The third workshop was Maggie Erber (Jessica's Mom) who spoke on homeschooling a houseful...her main points were to be at peace with your situation, work out a routine and post it, Make a big deal out of work well done and firmly and quietly correct bad attitudes and disobedience. In her family, they have quiet time...EVERYONE, EVERYDAY...she said that the older children need to get comfortable with silence, but they also need time to think, read, listen for God's voice...while Mom needs to rest and recoup...rejuvinate, have peace and quiet...
Another interesting thing she said was that they have one bedtime for all...this again gives the older ones time to read or something, but gives Mom and Dad time to relate as Husband and Wife. Then she said, sometimes you just need a day to get back on track...stay in pj's day, go to the park, deal with a particular issue, spring cleaning, sick child...it's okay if you need to do that.
Well, I am going to hop in the shower now and get ready for day two...wish you all could be here too!
C~

Fuzzi Bunz and Hope

This is not some sort of a terrible disease, these are diapers and I have ALOT of them. I posted them on Craigslist to see if I could re-sell them. The first time I posted them....nothing...nadda...zip
So they have sat around in a laundry basket making me crazy EVERY time I turn around.
So, FINALLY, I have re-posted...this morning...and I have already had two inquiries on them...amazing....I cannot tell you HOW grateful I am going to be to see these diapers go to a good home...and if you know anyone who needs some diapers, I have quite a few!

Well, in about an hour, my family will officially join the ranks of dog-sitters. We will be watching my Mother-in-law's little puppy, Hope (no, we do not consider her a dog-in-law...I only go SO far...) I am a little nervous for one reason....poo...I cannot stand poo of any kind, but dog poo is one of the worst kinds...If we can "train" (well as much as you can a puppy who will be with you for only four days...you know I could get this dog all turned around and then she goes back to her human....) [I really hope you all can see the humor in this...I am being very tongue in cheek...] her to go in one area so at least we don't step in it with our BARE FEET....
Anyway, Hope is a sweet little puppy (even if we do not want a corgi) and I am actually looking forward to it....except for the poo...I am hoping that it will inspire us to get our own dog...I have wanted a dog for a long time, but it is never the right time, so we have been 16 years and dogless in Seattle...The children do NEED a dog, you know.
Wish us luck!

C~

Tuesday, Still

Well, it is now almost bedtime...a wonderful time of day...but I was thinking about our lunch today...I mentioned earlier that I bought some ready made pizza dough at the store and we were going to make mini pizzas...each child could make theirs the way they wanted it (well relatively...based on what ingrediants we have...)...well, let me tell you, I was MOM of the DAY!!! The children had a blast....my kitchen was TRASHED, but it was a relatively SIMPLE MEAL...makes me wonder what things I say no to, that maybe should be a yes...painting, other art projects, baking or cooking together...going to or having friends over...and on and on the list could go if I had the brains to remember it all...
I have been reading the book I mentioned by Diana Waring and she mentioned this idea in her book...BLessing your Children...in her book, she mentioned an incident involving her daughter and a dog...I was thinking of how many times we have promised the children we will get a dog when....(you can fill in the blank with your favorite reply, but some of our reasons are...when it is spring, when we get the grass planted, when we find the type of dog we want, etc....)Really, what is the big deal...we should be looking for ways to bless our children and to say YES...rather than NO all the time.
On Sunday after Church, I got to take my oldest out for a few hours...he always asks if he can go with me when I have to run to the store and I usually have a reason why I need him at home, so I planned this little outing...
WE went to a couple of thrift stores (he found nothing, I found a few things), then I needed to go to the craft store...then he asked to go to Game crazy (they didn't have anything) and to Radio Shack (BINGO) He found a light sabre that he thought was cool and he had JUST ENOUGH money to buy it...We didn't really do all that much, but it was fun to treat him to an outing JUST WITH MOM...an opportunity to bless him and his interests (well except for the craft store...I needed that for myself).
So now to find a way to bless the others! Let me know what you do to...I may need a good idea or ten!
C~

Hurry up and Wait

Well, today was supposed to be Mr. David's surgery date...but, Thanks to the wonderful institution of Church Nursery...he is sick...again! This happened in March for his first surgery date and it just happened again...so guess when we get to go in for surgery again??? May? Nope...June??? Nope....JULY 1st....Yep...
Actually with the exception of all of this up and down of emotionally getting ready to get your 2 year old to the hospital for a surgery, it is MUCH better timing for me...No co-op, no sports, lighter schedule...
So we will hurry up ...and Wait!

Do any of you struggle with your typing when you are emailing or blogging? I know that I do....THe worst offender is when you CApitalize things and you hold that CAps LOck button down just a little toooooo long that the next letter gets capitalized too...my favorite is "WE"....makes it look like I am saying that WE do it much better or WE get to do that...I always correct it, but it makes me nuts!!!! So if I happen to miss one when I am typing to you, please know that it is because I am a dork and not stuck up or anything!~

April 25-27...Mad Hatter's Tea Party online Crop at Serendity Scrapbooks...this is always fun with special challenges, blue light specials in the store, and fun chatting on the forum...jump on in and join us there...I will be hoping to get several pages completed in my albums...so FAR behind...may even invite a few girlfriends over too! VIsit www.serendipityscrapbooks.com for all of the details.

I have been squeezing in little snippets of time to work on a layout here and there...may take me 8-10 trips to my craft area to actually finish a layout, but more is getting done than before...I have completed 7 pages this month so far and feel good about that. With my priorities first to my husband and then to my children, I don't have a lot of time to "give to myself", so five and ten minutes a few times a day is getting things done.

I have been reading a book out loud to my children that we have really enjoyed...It is called Grandpa's Box...it takes the accounts of the Bible and connects them together in the context of a battle...it has taken us FOREVER to read it as it will be several days on and then a week or two off...but we are all enjoying it...another really good book to read aloud is Ten P's in a Pod...this is a great book...I read it myself...we will read that one aloud next...
I personally am reading a book (I've stopped reading my mindless garbage for now and gone back to reading something substantive) by Diana WAring called "Reaping the Harvest". THis book is SO good...it is focused on the parent/teen relationship but has truths for all along the way...Diana is one of my heros in the homeschool field...I use her history curriculum and if I can hear her at a conference, I am all over it...she has an incredible enthusiam and way of bringing History Alive and just fun life experiences to go with it all...so much wisdom packed into one person...This book, while it comes from her background of homeschooling is good for anyone to read....my only question is...WHY ON EARTH did I not pick up this book sooner? I think I have seen it at my library before...another of her books, "Beyond Survival" is on my list to read next (I know this has a longer title, but I am too lazy to get up and grab it for the whole thing right now...) I bought these books EONS ago, but they have been SITTING ON THE SHELF...
WEll, I think that is about it for right now...Need to get lunch made...I bought some pizza dough at Winco yesterday and I am going to let the children make their own little mini pizzas for lunch...thanks SUe for the idea!
Have a nice lunch and Happy Tuesday!
C~

This is one of the lunchbox tins I have made recently. I made this for my homeschooling hero...Diana Waring...She has helped and encouraged me more than she will ever know. This is the front and one side.....The quote says, "What we learn with pleasure, we never forget.
The other tin is a recipe tin I made for my very good friend. I was her secret pal at church this year and I thought for sure that she knew it was me. She was kinda saying to ME that she thought it was me or another friend....this was hard, because she is my VERY GOOD FRIEND...I know her VERY WELL...anyway, when we had our revealing, I came with this and she was flabbergasted...she said, she had NO idea it was me....we've had many good laughs over this since...it looked alot nicer in person than this photo shows...
These tins are fun to make and are a FABULOUS gift to give...
I might make a couple for Mother's Day...who knows!

C~

Resurrection Day

Well Easter is almost upon us...what a day for rejoicing!!! I love Easter!!!
I think it is the best day of the year! Christmas is a great time to celebrate the arrival of Messiah, but Easter shows that we have HOPE...God died for us! But He didn't just DIE...He rose again...
He is risen, He is risen indeed!
Luke 24:5-6a...
"and as the women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, "Why do you seek the living One among the dead? He is not here, but He has risen."

And we can be forgiven:
Acts 16:31- "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household."
Believe that everything He did was for you...believe that HIS work and nothing else, on the cross was sufficient to forgive you of your sins....

In my family, my parents made wonderful Easter baskets for us and the Easter Bunny brought wonderful things for us...it was so much fun and my sister and I loved it!
When I became a Christian, got married and then started having children, my husband and I loved the traditions we had grown up with, but we wanted a deeper meaning with Christ at the center, where He belongs. We had made up a set of Resurrection Eggs...I had seen some a friend made and wanted some too...now, Family Life Today makes them and they are nice. We still have the homemade ones...an idea came to mind to make Resurrection Baskets where each item to give to our children has a symbolic meaning to something that happened in the account of the last week in the Life of Christ (I know that it wasn't His LAST week, but I am at a loss for the right words, so there we are...). So from Palm Sunday through His resurrection (and beyond too), we look for tangible things to impress into the children's minds the Amazing Grace of our great God...
I thought I would jot down some things we have done...past and present...we do not do ALL of these things every year...
I would love to hear any ideas you have as well!

Sunglasses-darkness from noon-three
cup-last supper
hat-crown of thorns
Leather and metal jewelry-scourging of Jesus
booklights/flashlight-Jesus is the light of the world, brought light into a dark world, light of revelation (thief who repented, Centurion who said, "Surely this man was the Son of God) [This year, I found a Rooster Flashlight for David...that also symbolized Peter's Denial of Christ that He foretold]
Soap-Washing Disciples feet, Pilate washing his hands of the decision
Watch-again, the darkness from noon to three
Bandaids-Grave clothes
Stuffed Donkey, Rooster or Lamb-Palm Sunday worship of Christ, Peter's Denial and Jesus is the Lamb of God
Bibles-Jesus' command to make disciples of the world, teaching all that He commanded/also Jesus walking on road to Emmaus revealing Scriptuer to Cleopas and the other man
Praise music-Palm Sunday Worship
Towels-Washing Disciples feet [this year, I found some magic (compressed) towels (washcloths) at a dollar store...the children are going to love those]
A little something sweet to remember that what Christ did for us is sweet for us
Sour Candy-to remember the vinegar offered to His on the cross-also because it seemed so bad to those who were there...He died...Weeping of the women around
Garment of some sort {pjs this year} for the garments they divided/cast lost for
game-the soldiers cast lots for who would get Christ's garments
Something with a cross-Crucifixion
30 dimes-thirty pieces of silver-Judas' betrayal money
Prayer journal- Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane
Always an empty egg to represent the EMPTY TOMB...if I can find a different container that is useful, I will get that instead of an egg...the eggs though are so cheap...
Special polished rocks-rock rolled in front of the tomb
Swedish Fish or other fish shaped items-eating fish with Peter after Resurrected/eating fish with the two men on the Road to Emmaus

How does your family celebrate?
Happy Resurrection Day!
May the Lord God bless you!

C~

Tag, You're it...

Okay, my friend Kristen has tagged me, so I think I will try to get this done now...

5 things you can't live without (well, I could live without them, but I do enjoy these) under $5:
1. Chocolate
2. Coffee or tea
3. Jamba Juice (that would be a small one for under $5)
4. Salt and Pepper Pretzels
5. Veggie Sub from Subway
(And actually, the things I couldn't live without are: Salvation, Jesus Christ, the Bible, Family and Friends...now there is a good list!)

5 Favorite Movies
1. Pride and Prejudice (BBC version)
2. Amazing Grace
3. The Ultimate Gift
4. White Christmas
5. Anne of Green Gables

5 Baby Names you LOVE but won't use

Girls:
1. Esther
2. Elsie
3. Elizabeth
4. Jane
5. Charlotte

Boys:
1. Noah
2. Abraham
3. Jonathan
4. Samuel
5. Matthew

5 songs you could here over and over again:
1. Anything by David Phelps
2. Barbie Bandaids and Heroes by the Isaacs
3. This old Place by Ernie Haase and Signature Sound
4. Jerusalem by the Hoppers
5. We Will Stand by Russ Taff
(There are SO many more...)

5 People who influenced your life in a positive way:
1. Sue Reynolds
2. Mr. Kelly (high school teacher)
3. Pastor Steve Brown
4. Pam Rinas
5. Pamela Spurling

5 Things that stay in your purse at all times:
1.Wallet
2. Lipstick/lip gloss
3. Receipts
4. Checkbook
5. Garbage that you take from your children when they have a candy, gum or cough drop

5 Moments that you knew changed you forever:
1. Salvation
2. Marriage
3. Giving birth to each of my children
4. When my good friend's daughter died
5. When my parents divorced

5 Obsessions you have right now: (well I wouldn't call them obsessions, maybe current fads)
1. Jamba Juice
2. Broccoli Salad at the Skagit Valley Co-op
3. Green Smoothies
4. Blogging
5. Cooking healthier for my family

5 Places you would really like to go
1. I would like to travel through all 50 states to see that which is the best of each state
2. Egypt
3. Israel
4. Iraq (No way right now...)
5. All around the Mediterranean

5 People you would love to see their top 5
1. Pamela Spurling
2. Rachel (HIC)
3. Joanna (HIC)
4. Lanita (HIC)
5. Rebecca (Serendipity)

Will write more later...

C~